Five new trailers wrap up the week (late in posting again): And Soon the Darkness, Blue Valentine, Four Lions, Knucklehead and Nice Guy Johnny (#3).

NICE GUY JOHNNY, trailer #3

	Plot Summary: Trying to make a better life for him and his fiancée, Johnny travels to New York to interview and finds a potential new lover. Release Date: October 26, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: B- Commentary: A longer trailer helps the film look a bit more mature than the predecessors, but there’s a lot of common sense rhetoric on display suggesting we don’t get much as an audience.	Previous Preview: Nice Guy Johnny
	Trailer Link: Apple Trailers Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview

BLUE VALENTINE

	Plot Summary: They’re trying to save their failing marriage, but will two unhappy people be able to reconnect through their shared memories? Release Date: December 31, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C+ Commentary: For being a well received movie at Cannes, the trailer doesn’t really highlight that. A hodge podge of images set to a rather silly ukulele ballad isn’t going to easily appeal to a lot of people leaving the film in danger of finding no audience.	Rating: C Commentary: I suppose it makes sense not to go for the obvious blue tint, but what makes them choose a lazy pink tone and an unimaginative image.
	Trailer Link: Yahoo Movies Trailers Oscar Chances: There’s already talk of both past Oscar nominees Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling in the hunt for nominations, but one (Williams) is competing against one of the toughest slates in recent history and the other (Gosling) may suffer from being one of far too many young faces in the chase for nods.

FOUR LIONS

	Plot Summary: Four British Muslims decide to become suicide bombers, but don’t realize just how difficult it is when they have no idea what they’re doing. Release Date: November 5, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C+ Commentary: While I’m not sure a comedy about terrorism is going to sit well with a lot of people, the concept isn’t too absurd and the trailer doesn’t make it look like a complete waste of time.	Rating: C Commentary: Too many “Funny” adjectives makes a somewhat interesting choice paired with the image of a crow strapped with an explosive device. However, the overall look is bland and may just be a cute piece of humor that most people won’t get without having seen the trailer.
	Trailer Link: Apple Trailers Oscar Chances: None.

KNUCKLEHEAD

	Plot Summary: A ruthless fight promoter sees a large, adult orphan and decides to turn him into a professional ring fighter. Release Date: October 22, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C+ Commentary: While I like a handful of the people in the film, I can’t help but see this as a poor excuse for a gross out comedy that won’t be able to make a dent at the box office.	Rating: C- Commentary: The common theme of most comedy posters is highlighting the cast in somewhat crazy ways. And while the poster certainly succeeds at that, it’s one of the biggest problems I have with most comedy posters. Try to be creative or original, not a copycat.
	Trailer Link: Yahoo Movies Trailers Oscar Chances: None.

AND SOON THE DARKNESS

	Plot Summary: Two American travelers find themselves in a quaint Mexican town but when one of them is taken, the other attempts to find her with the help of the only other native English speaker in the area. Release Date: December 17, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C- Commentary: Karl Urban could have so many choices, so why take this obviously hokey film that’s bound to end up sitting at the bottom of the wide release box office chart. The story isn’t very new, the plot gimmick seems obvious and the desire to discourage foreign travel is evident.	Rating: C Commentary: The color scheme works for the design, but it’s a plain and unexceptional three-strip poster with no spark of originality.
	Trailer Link: Apple Trailers Oscar Chances: None.